Leather-covered button and method of manufacture



Jan, 20, 1959 H. M. DUGAN ET AL 2,869,203

LEATHER-COVERED BUTTON AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURE Filed Oct. 18, 1957 Y s E m mM m NA A 0 7 x 0 A J. 1W 7) 0 we 3 a Q 7 A u United States Patent f LEATHER-COVERED BUTTON AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURE Henry M. Dugan, Hingham, and James J. Dugan, Milton, Mass.

Application October 18, 1957, Serial No. 691,088

6 Claims. (Cl. 24-113) This invention relates to buttons and more particularly to buttons of a type consisting primarily of a body portion having an external leather covering.

It is an object of the invention to provide a simple mode of manufacture and a button article made thereby of neat appearance and rugged construction.

It is another object of the invention to provide a button which can be easily and inexpensively made although simulating the appearance of buttons made in accordance with certain expensive prior art methods which involve considerable handwork and skill.

It is a still further object of the invention to effect a considerable economy in the cost of materials of a leather covered button.

It is yet another object of the invention to provide a simple means for rapid production of buttons made in accordance with the process taught herein.

Briefly, our invention comprises the combining of a fibrous core disc with a pair of co-acting leather elements having a braided effect wherein such elements are slitted pieces of leather intertwined with each other and wrapped around the disc in the intertwined condition to be fastened thereto by a multi-prong fastener. The disc carries a sewing eye or loop extending from the rear surface thereof and the multi-prong fastener is fashioned to pierce the free ends of the leather elements and secure them rigidly to the fiber disc, the sewing loop extending outwardly through an aperture in the fastener. After such assembly in a suitable apparatus, the button is subjected to pressure and/or heat to give it a partially spherical shape and a hard, smooth, glazed finish.

Our invention will now be described in detail in conjunction with the appended drawing in which:

Figure l is a perspective of one of the leather elements used for covering the button;

Figure 2 is a perspective of two such elements intertwined to simulate the effect ofbraided leather;

Figure 3 is a plan of a button body and sewing loop;

Figure 4 is a section through 44 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is .a perspective of a multi-prong fastening element;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary section of an apparatus showing the basic steps in the mode of manufacture of the button; and

Figure 7 is a perspective of the finished button.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the leather covering of the button comprises a pair of identical elements, one of which is shown in Fig. 1. Thus, a piece of leather 10 of generally rectangular configuration is provided with a long slit 13 extending from one edge about three-fourths of the distance to the other edge, forming legs A and B. The other edge is provided with a short slot 16 extending about an eighth of the distance inwardly thereof and forming tabs C and D. The distances involved are not critical and are described herein in an approximate manner.

The two pieces of leather are intertwined in such a 2,869,203 Patented Jan. 20, 1959 ice manner that the longer legs A and B of the piece shown in Fig. 1 alternately overand under-lap the legs A' and B of an identical leather piece 10, as shown in Fig. 2. The purposes of the slits 16 and 16 are to effect tabs C, D, C, D to facilitate folding the pieces around a button body or core.

Thus, the button core 20, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, is of compressible fibrous material and provided with a central aperture 23 having a bent wire sewing loop 26. The composite assembly of Fig. 2 is folded around the core by being centered with respect thereto, front surface 27 facing the leather elements and the free ends of the legs A, B, A, B and tabs C, D and C, D being folded around the core and secured to the rear surface.

This may be accomplished in an apparatus as shown in Fig. 6 wherein the leather assembly 10, 10 is initially placed on a die carrier 30 having an aperture 33.

The button core 20 is then placed centrally on the leather piece assembly and a ram 37 brought down to push the button core and the pieces of leather into a cavity 36 of a female die element 40 thus folding the legs and tabs up around the sides of the core into the condition shown in the right hand portion of Fig. 6.

Subsequently, from the position shown in the lefthand portion of Fig. 6 the carrier 30 may be considered as totated to the position shown in the righthand portion so as to bring the partially folded assembly under a ram 43, presses the die 40 downwardly, compressing a spring 47 and simultaneously forcing inwardly a plurality of angularly spaced finger 50 pivotally carried by the die 40. The fingers 50 are L-shaped and arranged to be cammed by an annular ridge 56 formed internally in the carrier 3% so that downward force on the die 40 forces the fingers inwardly against compression of respective springs 59 and into folding engagement with the ends and tabs of the leather pieces, forcing them radially into eontiguity with the rear surface of the core. Subsequently, a multiprong apertured fastener 60 is disposed points first against the substantially horizontal ends of the legs and tabs by means of a ram 63 carried concentrically in the ram 43. The fastener 60 may be magnetically held at the bottom of ram 63 or other suitable holding means may be used. The ram 63 forces the fastener through the leather and into the fibrous core 20 to securely hold those elements in rugged integral condition. The sewing loop passes through the aperture in the fastening member so as to be accessible, as will be apparent from consideration of Fig. 7.

After the button has been assembled in an apparatus as shown in Fig. 6 or the equivalent, it is then placed for the final process step in a pressure die (not shown), preferably a heated die, where it is given the generally spherical rounded front shown in Fig. 7, and wherein a smooth, glazed surface is imparted in a manner heretofore known. The compressibility of the core material makes the spher ical formation possible.

We are aware that various changes may be made in the article and in the method hereinabove described and accordingly we do not seek to be limited to the precise illustration herein given except as set forth in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A button, comprising in combination a disc-like core of fibrous material having an envelope of leather elements comprised of a pair of identical leather pieces slitted to form legs and tabs, said legs being in lapped arrangement to simulate .a braiding on one face of said core, said tabs and free ends of said legs being folded over generally radially and being contiguous with the other face of said core, and a fastening ring having a plu "2,869,203 V v A p A rality of prongs passing-through said tabs and free ends and beingtembedded insaid core.

2. A button as set forth in claim 1, said core carrying a centrally disposed sewing loop, said loop extending beyond the. plane of-said radially.,disposed-foldedtabs and free ends. s

3. A button as set forth inclaim.-2, said'fastening ring having .a vsubstantially centrally formed .aperture, said sewing loop extending outwardly Jofsaidbutton through said aperture.

4. A'button as set forth in-claim 3, said'sewing :loop comprising a bent 'wire loop having a pair of legs, an aperture in said core, said ,legs extending through said core and beingspread on one side thereofto retain said loop on said core.

5. A method of making a button comprising placing one side of a fiat disc-like core of compressible fibrous material on a facing consisting of two identical slitted pieces of foldable material in intertwined array to simulate braiding; folding the free edges of said pieces of material around said core in radial disposition contiguously with the other side of said core; forcing a pronged retainer element through said free edges into said core, and subjecting the composite assembly thus formed to pressure to produce a rounded profile for said one side of said core and the facing thereof.

6. A method as set forth in claim 5, wherein the pressure to which said assembly is subjected is accompanied by heat.

No references cited. 

